Comments on: 360Flex changes in the air http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/ John Wilker: Community, Code, Randomness Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:19:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John Wilker http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/comment-page-1/#comment-1246 John Wilker Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45:07 +0000 www.johnwilker.com/j/index.cfm/2007/6/29/360Flex-changes-in-the-air#comment-1246 @Dan Thanks, very true... And send us an email to info@360flex we'll make sure you're on the list :) and you won't pay reg :) @Dan

Thanks, very true…

And send us an email to info@360flex we'll make sure you're on the list :)

and you won't pay reg :)

]]> By: David http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/comment-page-1/#comment-1248 David Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45:07 +0000 www.johnwilker.com/j/index.cfm/2007/6/29/360Flex-changes-in-the-air#comment-1248 Hi John, Are you in touch with our (Adobe) evangelists in Europe? Folks like Andrew Shorten, Enrique Duvos, Waldo Smeets. (A) they might be able to speak and (b) they might be able to help you find speakers in Europe. Good luck. I hope you don't have to raise prices generally. That said, costs in Europe are generally much higher than in the US these days so it might be tough. Regards, David Adobe Hi John,

Are you in touch with our (Adobe) evangelists in Europe? Folks like Andrew Shorten, Enrique Duvos, Waldo Smeets. (A) they might be able to speak and (b) they might be able to help you find speakers in Europe.

Good luck. I hope you don't have to raise prices generally. That said, costs in Europe are generally much higher than in the US these days so it might be tough.

Regards,
David
Adobe

]]> By: John Wilker http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/comment-page-1/#comment-1251 John Wilker Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45:07 +0000 www.johnwilker.com/j/index.cfm/2007/6/29/360Flex-changes-in-the-air#comment-1251 @Jeff, @saj You're spot on. bringing outside food or drink, strictly a no no. In Seattle on the last day, we put out Red Bull we had left over... That was against the rules. We did it, because we didn't want it to go to waste, and I couldn't take it him (believe it! I woulda), but we risked getting in trouble from the Red Lion. We probably won't do shirts again, at least not soon. Consider those a keepsake LOL. @Jeff, @saj

You're spot on. bringing outside food or drink, strictly a no no. In Seattle on the last day, we put out Red Bull we had left over… That was against the rules. We did it, because we didn't want it to go to waste, and I couldn't take it him (believe it! I woulda), but we risked getting in trouble from the Red Lion.

We probably won't do shirts again, at least not soon. Consider those a keepsake LOL.

]]> By: Patrick Keating http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/comment-page-1/#comment-1252 Patrick Keating Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45:07 +0000 www.johnwilker.com/j/index.cfm/2007/6/29/360Flex-changes-in-the-air#comment-1252 Hi John, as a past speaker at 360Flex Seattle, I would like to say first off that that event was a blast and that you and Tom did a great job. With regard to your post, I think that the requests for air/hotel have more to do with the fact that the event is in Europe than with anything else. While this may be obvious, after reading your post I thought it might be worth mentioning. I know in my household the statement "Honey, I am thinking of going to Barcelona on a business tripÖ " would need to be quickly followed up with "they are paying for it". The same statement with "San Jose" or "Chicago" would get a different reaction. I may be alone in having such a situation but I think that others may face a similar situation with their spouses or bosses. The whole conference in Europe things sounds good on paper but for us mere mortals it might be too far (and fun sounding). But what do I know? Hi John, as a past speaker at 360Flex Seattle, I would like to say first off that that event was a blast and that you and Tom did a great job. With regard to your post, I think that the requests for air/hotel have more to do with the fact that the event is in Europe than with anything else. While this may be obvious, after reading your post I thought it might be worth mentioning. I know in my household the statement "Honey, I am thinking of going to Barcelona on a business tripÖ " would need to be quickly followed up with "they are paying for it". The same statement with "San Jose" or "Chicago" would get a different reaction. I may be alone in having such a situation but I think that others may face a similar situation with their spouses or bosses. The whole conference in Europe things sounds good on paper but for us mere mortals it might be too far (and fun sounding). But what do I know?

]]> By: Jeffry Houser http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/comment-page-1/#comment-1255 Jeffry Houser Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45:07 +0000 www.johnwilker.com/j/index.cfm/2007/6/29/360Flex-changes-in-the-air#comment-1255 Jason, You gotta admit, those were really great T-shirts. The stuff that I get for 'free' through Adobe User Groups generally wear out in 6 months. But, 360Flex actually gave me something I could wear to a client. I would expect most hotels or conference centers have a stipulation that you can't bring in outside food. This is probably a liability, legal, and insurance issue. I haven't research it, though, I'm just guessing. Jason,

You gotta admit, those were really great T-shirts. The stuff that I get for 'free' through Adobe User Groups generally wear out in 6 months. But, 360Flex actually gave me something I could wear to a client.

I would expect most hotels or conference centers have a stipulation that you can't bring in outside food. This is probably a liability, legal, and insurance issue. I haven't research it, though, I'm just guessing.

]]> By: John Wilker http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/comment-page-1/#comment-1256 John Wilker Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45:07 +0000 www.johnwilker.com/j/index.cfm/2007/6/29/360Flex-changes-in-the-air#comment-1256 @patrick Excellent point, and I wasn't very clear. So far the requests have been in regards to Europe, from european speakers. Granted there's a lot of countries and such, it's not like going to the next state over, but the requests have all been from that side of the pond. We actually had one US speaker, planning to cross the pond, "So long as reg is covered, I can get there" And yeah we figured other than maybe adobe speakers, there wouldn't be a lot of US speakers, but who knows. And we're glad you had a good time. That's great to hear! And it's what we want to hear! @patrick

Excellent point, and I wasn't very clear. So far the requests have been in regards to Europe, from european speakers. Granted there's a lot of countries and such, it's not like going to the next state over, but the requests have all been from that side of the pond. We actually had one US speaker, planning to cross the pond, "So long as reg is covered, I can get there" And yeah we figured other than maybe adobe speakers, there wouldn't be a lot of US speakers, but who knows.

And we're glad you had a good time. That's great to hear! And it's what we want to hear!

]]> By: Jeffry Houser http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/comment-page-1/#comment-1257 Jeffry Houser Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45:07 +0000 www.johnwilker.com/j/index.cfm/2007/6/29/360Flex-changes-in-the-air#comment-1257 No shirts? Say, it ain't so... I'd rather crappy ones that wear out in 6 months than none at all. In every instance where you have to shell out money (Party, lunch food, Shirts, etc.. ) I'd try to get a sponsor associated with that... Is that obvious? Is that easier said than done? I have no idea... No shirts? Say, it ain't so…
I'd rather crappy ones that wear out in 6 months than none at all.

In every instance where you have to shell out money (Party, lunch food, Shirts, etc.. ) I'd try to get a sponsor associated with that… Is that obvious? Is that easier said than done? I have no idea…

]]> By: John Wilker http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/comment-page-1/#comment-1259 John Wilker Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45:07 +0000 www.johnwilker.com/j/index.cfm/2007/6/29/360Flex-changes-in-the-air#comment-1259 @Dave, We're actually talking to Sumi Lim as our Adobe point of contact. I think raising our prices will be our last resort, at least I hope. @Dave,

We're actually talking to Sumi Lim as our Adobe point of contact. I think raising our prices will be our last resort, at least I hope.

]]> By: Dan Wilson http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/comment-page-1/#comment-1260 Dan Wilson Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45:07 +0000 www.johnwilker.com/j/index.cfm/2007/6/29/360Flex-changes-in-the-air#comment-1260 I attended 360 Flex in San Jose. I thought it was a phenomenal format and one of the better conferences I ever attended. People will always complain about something and you can go crazy trying to listen/appease everyone. Please try not to be discouraged. I'll speak at your East Coast conference. And Pay Full Registration to boot. DW I attended 360 Flex in San Jose.

I thought it was a phenomenal format and one of the better conferences I ever attended.

People will always complain about something and you can go crazy trying to listen/appease everyone. Please try not to be discouraged.

I'll speak at your East Coast conference. And Pay Full Registration to boot.

DW

]]> By: Jason The Saj http://johnwilker.com/2007/10/360Flex-changes-in-the-air/comment-page-1/#comment-1261 Jason The Saj Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45:07 +0000 www.johnwilker.com/j/index.cfm/2007/6/29/360Flex-changes-in-the-air#comment-1261 Shirts: $8,000 for how many? 360 attendees 40 or so auxilliaries. I've printed shirts once. It was done by a christian commune in Chicago. The quality was great... I did get a great deal because it was for a related event. Here is their website... www.bellyacres.com (I don't know if they do the polo style shirts or not. I can find out. Not sure what they'd charge you for 1,000 shirts. If you can reach Don Hill you can mentioned that Jason "The Saj" referred you. ) **** I think buying your own video gear is probably a good idea. I mean you can get those nice Canon semi-pro digital video cameras for like $1,000-$2,000. **** Food...man, did it really cost $94,000 for the food for only 400 people. *ponders* You've just made me realize what an unbelievable deal I got on my wedding. One of my best friends, who happens to be a Chef and graduate of the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) catered the food at my wedding. I had 100-125 people. And she did it for me at her cost (ie: food, warming oven rentals, etc). I wound up spending around $700 on some of the best food anyone ever ate at a buffet. I'm think we need to get you guys connected. *lol* (That said, I do understand the problem isn't really that sodas cost $4.25 but rather the hotel won't let you provide your own food service, etc. Otherwise you could go to Costco and pick up cases of soda. Hire my friend Tracy to cater. And for $40,000 have better food.) This does make me wonder if perhaps a hotel is not the best place for such a conference? What about some facility you could rent. Perhaps a ski lodge in summer. Or anywhere that would allow you to bring in your own food provisioning. This could potentially cut food related costs by 50%. **** One thing I think you are missing in your business planning is missing. Is polling people for resources. I don't know how many T-shirts you guys bought for $8,000. Maybe you actually got 4,000 shirts @ $2. But $8K seems like a lot to me. Hence, I sent you the link to belly-acres. Who knows, maybe one of the 360Flex attendees works for a company that does audio/video and would trade recording the seminars for being able to send 4-5 of it's employees free. But if you don't put out feelers, how will we know the needs? ;-) I'm thinking we could have cut the net loss in half just on the T-shirt issue. Not saying we can solve everything. But we might be able to help. For example, if you did an event around the Pennsylvania/Maryland area. Being a DJ, I own a couple of sound systems. I'd have no problem using those for the conference if it saved you $1,000 on audio equipment rental. I wouldn't doubt if there was some 360Flex attendee from the NW who also was a DJ or in a band and had some PA equipment. Shirts: $8,000 for how many? 360 attendees 40 or so auxilliaries. I've printed shirts once. It was done by a christian commune in Chicago. The quality was great… I did get a great deal because it was for a related event.

Here is their website…
http://www.bellyacres.com

(I don't know if they do the polo style shirts or not. I can find out. Not sure what they'd charge you for 1,000 shirts. If you can reach Don Hill you can mentioned that Jason "The Saj" referred you. )

****

I think buying your own video gear is probably a good idea. I mean you can get those nice Canon semi-pro digital video cameras for like $1,000-$2,000.

****

Food…man, did it really cost $94,000 for the food for only 400 people. *ponders*

You've just made me realize what an unbelievable deal I got on my wedding. One of my best friends, who happens to be a Chef and graduate of the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) catered the food at my wedding. I had 100-125 people. And she did it for me at her cost (ie: food, warming oven rentals, etc). I wound up spending around $700 on some of the best food anyone ever ate at a buffet.

I'm think we need to get you guys connected. *lol*

(That said, I do understand the problem isn't really that sodas cost $4.25 but rather the hotel won't let you provide your own food service, etc. Otherwise you could go to Costco and pick up cases of soda. Hire my friend Tracy to cater. And for $40,000 have better food.)

This does make me wonder if perhaps a hotel is not the best place for such a conference? What about some facility you could rent. Perhaps a ski lodge in summer. Or anywhere that would allow you to bring in your own food provisioning. This could potentially cut food related costs by 50%.

****

One thing I think you are missing in your business planning is missing. Is polling people for resources. I don't know how many T-shirts you guys bought for $8,000. Maybe you actually got 4,000 shirts @ $2. But $8K seems like a lot to me. Hence, I sent you the link to belly-acres.

Who knows, maybe one of the 360Flex attendees works for a company that does audio/video and would trade recording the seminars for being able to send 4-5 of it's employees free.

But if you don't put out feelers, how will we know the needs?

;-)

I'm thinking we could have cut the net loss in half just on the T-shirt issue. Not saying we can solve everything. But we might be able to help.

For example, if you did an event around the Pennsylvania/Maryland area. Being a DJ, I own a couple of sound systems. I'd have no problem using those for the conference if it saved you $1,000 on audio equipment rental. I wouldn't doubt if there was some 360Flex attendee from the NW who also was a DJ or in a band and had some PA equipment.

]]>